INTRODUCTION: Invasive candidiasis (IC) has primarily been studied in intensive
care unit (ICU) patients, although, in reality, a vast majority of these
infections occur outside of the ICU. The recent publication of the European
Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) guidelines also
deal with the non-ICU population, but many uncertainties remain on the management
of IC, particularly in non-critically ill patients.
METHODS: The Italian Society of Antimicrobial Therapy, Società Italiana di
Terapia Antimicrobica (SITA), produced practical, hospital-wide recommendations
on the management of Candida infection in non-immunocompromised patients in the
hospital ward.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Our focus is on patient stratification in terms of risk
factors for IC and of clinical severity, emphasising a high index of suspicion to
ensure early diagnosis, early treatment and de-escalation when a patient is
clinically stable, in order to optimise resource allocation.
